A judge has slapped down Julian Assange's attempt to leave London's Ecuador embassy by saying his arrest warrant will not be dropped

By Jon Rogers

13th February 2018, 3:26 pm

Updated: 14th February 2018, 11:14 am

WIKILEAKS founder Julian Assange was today told the arrest warrant against him will not be dropped.

In a severe blow to Mr Assange, 46, who is currently holed up in Ecuador's London embassy, has been told by a judge he should face the charges against him.

AFP or licensors

Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy

Judge Abuthnot said his failure to surrender was deliberate and impeded the course of justice.

In a stinging attack on Mr Assange, she said he appeared to "consider himself above the normal rules of law".

She said: "Having weighed up the factors for and against and considered Mr Summers' arguments I find arrest is a proportionate response even though Mr Assange has restricted his own freedom for a number of years.

"Defendants on bail up and down the country, and requested persons facing extradition, come to court to face the consequences of their own choices. He should have the courage to do so too."

AP:Associated Press

A judge has told Julian Assange the charges against him will not be dropped

The ruling means that Mr Assange would be arrested by police if he steps outside the embassy.

"The issue is whether he has been punished enough," the judge said.

She said she had read the medical reports about Mr Assange.

AP:Associated Press

The Ecuador embassy in central London where Julian Assange is currently living

Although she said she accepted that he has a serious tooth problem and a shoulder problem that needs an MRI scan she does not accept that there is "no sunlight".

She said there were a number of photographs of him on the embassy balcony.

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'It is certainly not against the public interest to proceed,' said the judge.

Mr Assange fled to the embassy in 2012 after skipping bail to avoid being sent to Sweden to face an allegation of rape, which he denied.

The Swedish case was dropped in May last year, but there is still an outstanding a warrant for his arrest over the breach of bail terms.

Mr Assange has not left the embassy since he first walked in nearly six years ago and his lawyers had argued in a court hearing last week that it was no longer in the interests of justice for British authorities to seek to arrest and prosecute him for skipping bail.

A small group of supporters stood quietly outside the court after the ruling, holding banners reading "Free Assange" and "Assange Safe Passage".

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